- Appliance
- Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator
- Symptom
- Slowly stopped holding temperature — refrigerant leak
- Resolution
- Sealed system repaired, recharged and monitored
- Location
- Medina, WA
What the customer reported
The refrigerator was not holding temperature the way it used to. Sealed-system leaks rarely announce themselves — the unit runs longer and longer, holds a few degrees warm, and only then stops keeping food cold.
What we found
The compressor was running and the condenser was clear, so the usual airflow and cleaning causes were ruled out first. The unit had lost refrigerant charge — a leak in the sealed system, not a control or fan fault.
What we did
Located and repaired the leak, evacuated the system and recharged it to the correct weight, then watched it pull down to temperature over several hours to confirm the fix held rather than declaring it done at the door.
Why this happens
Sealed-system work needs EPA certification and equipment most general appliance shops do not carry, which is why the same fault often gets quoted as a replacement fridge. On a built-in Sub-Zero, replacing the unit means replacing cabinetry too — the repair is normally a fraction of that.